No engineer functions at their best without an understanding of the injection molding machine, process, mold, material, product design, and mold design. This extensive grouping of courses helps provide this critical information.

These courses were designed by industry experts and are some of the best training available to design and process engineers.

Package Includes:

Introduction to Injection Molding

Injection Molding Basics

Understanding Plastics

Establishing a Scientific Molding Process

Mold Design & Moldmaking

Plastic Part Design

Introduction to Injection Molding

This course provides participants with a general introduction to the plastics industry. The primary focus of this training program is the day-to-day operations of a typical injection molding facility.

An Introduction to Injection Molding was created for newcomers to the injection molding industry or anyone that would like to learn more about plastics. We recommend that new hires take this course before participating in our Injection Molding Basics series.

An overview of plastics and the industry

A typical molding facility

General plant safety

An introduction to the molding process

Molding machine components

Material handling

Injection mold terminology

Common part defects

Injection Molding Basics

Our Basics series provides participants with a general understanding of the three major aspects of injection molding; the injection molding machine, the molding process, and the injection mold. These programs use 3D animation to demonstrate the inner workings of the machine and mold and to easily convey otherwise complex concepts. Important safety precautions are stressed throughout these training programs.

These basic injection molding training programs are ideal for new hires, yet also serve as an excellent refresher course for any employee involved in plastics processing; from operators and technicians to management and setup personnel.

Part 1: Machine

Cites important safety precautions for working around injection molding machines

General procedures for starting up and shutting down a molding machine

Part 2: Process

Discusses polymers and the three criteria used to classify them

Covers some of the more common procedures for material preparation

Introduces the three phases of the molding process; injection, cooling and ejection

Explains the need for maintaining an accurate process log

Defines common injection molded part defects and explains their causes

Part 3: Mold

Explains the specific functions that an injection mold must perform

Introduces the various machining methods used to construct an injection mold

Discusses the three mold configurations used in the industry

Covers common runner shapes and gate types used in injection molds

Gives an overview of proper injection mold maintenance

Understanding Plastics

This program explains how and why plastics are different and cites several different types of polymers and processing considerations. Understanding Plastics emphasizes material handling, explains regrind, and covers the effects that moisture can have on molded part properties during processing.

The definition of plastics

Polymer classification

Material properties affected by processing

Proper material handling techniques

Processing characteristics of virgin and regrind

Establishing a Scientific Molding Process

This scientific molding training course provides participants with in-depth processing information to better prepare them for making appropriate and cost-effective decisions when establishing or improving a scientific injection molding process.

The course teaches a processing strategy that properly decouples 1st stage fill from 2nd stage pack. Students who understand and utilize the strategy described in this course will produce processes with a much higher repeatability. The steps outlined in this course are intended to quickly establish a scientific injection molding process, reduce downtime and improve process efficiency.

General Rules for Scientific Processing

Scientific Process Optimization Strategies

1st Stage Filling

1st Stage to 2nd Stage Transfer

2nd Stage Pack

Screw Delay

Screw Recovery

Screw Decompression

Cooling Time

Mold Opening

Part Ejection

Mold Closing

Clamping

Mold Design & Moldmaking

This comprehensive 9-part online training program was created with help from many of the world's leading tool manufacturers and suppliers and is intended for tool designers, mold makers, engineers, part designers, and anyone involved in the tool procurement process.

The Mold Design and Moldmaking Series familiarizes participants with the different types of injection molds, contemporary machining methods, and many of the available mold components. This course also provides the participant with a tool design methodology and a sample mold specification guide for reference.

Course 1: Injection Mold Fundamentals

The four basic functions of an injection mold

Part design considerations

Material considerations

Molding machine considerations

Initial mold design

Course 2: Mold Machining Methods, Part 1

Conventional and CNC milling

Conventional and CNC lathe

Conventional and CNC surface grinding

The advantages and disadvantages to each machining method

Finishes and stresses with each process

Course 3: Mold Machining Methods, Part 2

Conventional and CNC die sinking EDM

CNC wire EDM

Polishing

Inspection equipment

Seal-offs

Course 4: 2-Plate, 3-Plate, and Hot Runner Molds

Explains the three basic mold designs and their construction

Advantage and disadvantage to each design

Common uses for each design

Explains different hot runner systems

Parting line locks

Specialty molds

Course 5: Mold Bases, Tool Steels & Heat Treating

Tooling materials and their properties

Various heat treating methods

Introduces alternative materials, such as Beryllium-copper

Features DME standardized mold bases

Course 6: External and Internal Actions

Slides, core pins, & lifters

Unscrewing & expandable cores

Inserts

Dissolvable cores

Preload and seal-offs

Part Ejection, Venting and Cooling

Course 7: Ejector pins, sleeves, blades and lifters

Stripper plates and pneumatic ejection

Water lines, bubblers, baffles and conductive cooling rods

Multi-stage ejection and ejection return

Covers different forms of part venting

Course 8: Gating Methods

Commonly used Gates and their characteristics

Introduction to hot runner gate design

Introduction to cold runner gate design

Explains manual and automatic gate removal

Discusses gate location determination

Course 9: Runners, Filling Software & The Mold Design Process

Parting line determination and considerations

Core and cavity block configuration

Cooling line and ejection layout

Additional mold components

Mold filling analysis capabilities

Plastic Part Design

Plastic Part Design provides part designers with an understanding of the plastic part design process. This extensive, interactive online training program also addresses many of the factors and concerns associated with part design.

Dr. Robert Malloy, a respected author and professor at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, developed these comprehensive courses.